Utility says Flint man, 86, who died wasn't covered by new policy that prevents power cutoffs for seniors

David Harris | dharris5@mlive.comThe 730 E. Parkway Ave. home where John Morgan lived.

FLINT, Michigan -- The 86-year-old Flint man found dead in his truck this week after his power was shut off may have slipped through the cracks of a Consumers Energy policy and a state law designed to prevent winter power cutoffs for senior citizens.

In order to fall under the policy, anyone who became a Consumers Energy customer before 2009 must tell the utility company when they become a senior citizen at age 65, according to a utility spokesman.

"I'm not sure who's at fault in this, but it's not the way (the law) was
designed to work," said former State Sen. Jim Barcia, D-Bay City, who was a proponent of the law. "Obviously, there was a failure at some point in the process."

DeDoes said Consumers has other safeguards in place, such as a third party option, which allows another person to handle a customer's bill if they are unable.